Open verdict on Rinehart bodyguard death

Gina Rinehart (left) is seen with her daughter, Ginia Rinehart (right).
Photo: Fairfax

A London coroner's court has been told bodyguard Jerry Rouwhorst took his own life believing he had disgraced his friend and employer Ginia Rinehart, the daughter of Australian mining magnate
Gina Rinehart
.

However, the coroner Shirley Radcliff has delivered an open verdict on the 35-year-old’s death by hanging, ruling that the level of alcohol in his system and a distressed text message sent to Ms Rinehart offering his resignation as her bodyguard meant she could not be sure he intended to kill himself.

To return a verdict of suicide, Dr Radcliff said, the court needed to be sure that he was intent on ending his own life.

* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.